Pipe-painting machine



PIPE PAINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTOR EY April 22, 1930. 5 JAMES 1,755,877

PIPE PAINTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 0 1% 5 l l l I I I I I 521 l i I 26 I 1.- I l I g I E5 cknes',

INVENTOR Patented Apr. 22, 1930 PATENT OFFICE RALPH EMERSON JANES, OF DALLAS, TEXAS PIPE-PAINTING MACHINE Application filed January 20, 1928. Serial No. 248,055.

A further object of the invention is to pro-' vide a machine of this character which includes a paint tank or reservoir which moves alon with the machine and having means for heating the paint by the engine exhaust, the heated paint then being pumped through a pipe encircling the pipe being'palnted.

A still further object of the invention lies in the arrangement and construction of parts wherein the power of the engine may be applied to regulate the travel thereof along the pl e. TVith the above and other and furtherobj ects in view the invention will be readily and clearly understood from a perusal of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the machine mounted on a section of pipe.

Figure 2 is a perspective side view of the side opposite that shown in Figure 1, parts being broken away.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the paint tank or reservoir; and

Figure4 is a partial perspective view of part of the heater in the tank for heating the paint.

Proceeding in accordance with the drawings and wherein difi'erent numerals designate the various parts, 1 denotes a section of pipe which may represent gas line pipe or pipe for other purposes and which it is'desired to be given a coat of paint. The pipe 1, although not so shown in the drawing, is of course suspended at each end from the floor or earth to enable the machine to travel therealong in the painting operation.

'pipe comprises a framework consisting The machine for painting or spraying the of the two angle irons 2, spaced apart and bolted together by bolts 3, so that the portion 2' overhangs and projects outwardly from the sides of the pipe. These parts 2 thus provide a means for connecting thereto the posts 4 and from which is suspended the tank for carrying the paint to be applied. This tank will be referred to again in more detail.

For supporting the framework upon the pipe. so that it can move along the latter easily, there is provided wheels 5 carried on a suitable shaft, the shaft being seated in the parts 2 and having oil boxes 6, adjacent to which are ball bearings for the shafts. These wheels have a beveled margin 5 to properly engage with the perpihery of the pipe and those to the left in Figure 2 are independent of each other. The wheels 5 are connected together or may be made in one and the shaft on which they are mounted is rigidly secured to a large circular disk 6 so that the disk and wheel or wheels may rotate together when power is applied to the disk as will be hereinafter explained. I

An internal combustion engine indicated generally at 7 is seated between and bolted to the angle irons as shown in Figure 1, the engine supplying power both for operating the machine in its travel on the pipe, but also operating a pump, indicated generally at 9. The pump is seated upon the tank 5, being bolted thereto as shown in Figure 1 and includes a by-pass pipe 10 and pump suction pipe 9. In the drawing in Figure 3 this pump is not shown, being thought unnecessary, but its suction pipe 9' is indicated which will clarify the position as to the pump in this figure.

Connected to the drive shaft 12 of the engine is a chain 13 which is connected to a sprocket 14 on a shaft 15. This shaft is mounted in the bearings 16 which are held in a rigid manner outward from and being connected to the angle parts by a small arm or integrally-formed projection not shown. To the opposite end of the shaft 15 is placed a pulley or sprocket 17 over which a chain 18 rides, the chain being connected to another 'sprocket on the pump shaft 19. In this manlaterally it will maintain its proper position i on a horizontal plane in driving the pump and for imparting rotation to the disk 6*. Mounted upon the shaft 15 is a drive roller and which engages with the surface of the disk 6 by friction to impart rotation thereto. This roller however is capable of being slid along the shaft to vary the speed of the disk. In the drawing it is shown at the lowest speed on the outer circumference of the disk. The roller, however, grips the shaft sufiiciently to prevent slipping when in contact with the disk, or it may if preferred be keyed to the shaft so as to permit it to slide therealong, when adjusting the travel of the frame to proper speed along the pipe.

The means for swinging the shaft 15 outwardly and inwardly also includes a shaft 21, upon which is rigidly mounted a handle 22. On each end of this shaft 21 are rigidly at tached members 23 and a similar member 24 is formed with or may be rigidly fastened to the sleeves 19. Connecting these parts is a link 25. From this construction it will now be apparent that on moving the handle 22 outwardly from the frame will throw the roller away from the disk without interfering with the adjustment of the roller or other parts. For retracting the shaft 15 inwardly, there are provided springs which when the handle is released permit the shaft 15 to bring the roller again against the disk 6. A handle 28 is rigidly mounted to the framework and enables the machine to be pushed or pulled to and fro on the pipe.

Referring again to the tank 5, in this tank there is disposed a heater 30" depicted in part in Figure 4. This heater has an opening centrally thereof for a pipe which traverses the heater from end to end, the pipe being connected to the exhaust pipe 29, and the exhaust passing out from the tank at the point 30. The heater is preferably constructed of aluminum and has semi-circular passages 31 which while it rests upon the bottom of the tank, permit the paint to flow therethrough. The tank has a filler cap 32.

For spraying the paint on the pipe there is provided a pipe portion 34, connected in the pump line by means ofthe connections shown in Figure 1 with the suction pipe 9. Th1s pipe 34 is-passed around the pipe spirally and includes spaced nipples 35 for properly causing the spray to be formed. The pipe 34 also includes a bleed cock 36.

In operation of the machine, it is guided alon the pipe by the handle 28 and on this ban 1e is a control 29 for the engine, the control only being partly shown. The control is operated to start the engine to work the pump, the handle 22 having been previously moved outwardly to disengage the roller from the disk 6". After the engine has begun to work well and the paint is bein sprayed properl through thenipples 35, t e handle 22 is re eased, and the roller engages with the isk and causes the machine to move along the pipe 1. When the end of a pipe is reached the engine is stopped until another pipe can be lirzied up therewith and the operation repeate While a full working and practical machine is herein disclosed, obviously alterations and modifications may be made therein in keeping with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pipe painting machine, the combination with a carriage mounted on wheels adapted to travel on a pipe to be painted, of an engine mounted on -said carriage, a paint receptacle supported by said carriage beneath the pipe, means including a pump for applymg paint from said receptacle to said pipe, means for selectively driving said pump alone and in unison with said carriage,

said last named means comprising an adjustable shaft operably connected to said engine, a roller mounted upon said shaft for rotation therewith, a disk mounted for simultaneous rotation with one of said wheels, a rotatable shaft journaled in said carriage adjacent said adjustable shaft, link means between said adjustable shaft and said rotatable shaft for relatively positioning said shafts with said roller and disk selectively in and out of contact with each other, a drive chain operably connecting the free end of said adjustable shaft with said pump.

2. In a machine as set out in claim 1, said receptacle being provided with a heater therein, said heater being provided with an opening extending substantially centrally throughout the length of said heater for connection with the exhaust from the engine for heating the paint, said heater being formed with semi-circular passages on its under side.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RALPH EMERSON JANES. 

